Millennials are part of a generation that prioritizes their commitments and jobs. This is why they seldom have time to take proper care of themselves or are too busy to consult a physician.
A new survey from Project:Time Off and GfK found that millennials are proud to be "work martyrs" and are likely to immerse themselves in their jobs than their older counterparts. Millennials are less likely to use their vacation leaves and are prone to making mistakes or disregard their health that could worsen later on.
Dr. Jennifer Caudle, a family physician and assistant professor at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, told Bustle of the most common health mistakes she observed among millennials. One health mistake is detox and fad diets.
Detox diets are the latest food craze among millennials. This entails consuming vegetable and fruit juices for the whole day, believing that it would cleanse the body of toxins.
Some detox diets are respectable especially if it purifies your body from alcohol and drugs. Others that flushes out calories, however, are just a scam and don't make sense, according to Medical Daily.
Another health mistake millennials commit is not going to the doctor for years to have a checkup. Caudle stressed that people should have yearly visits to physicians even though they appear to be healthy.
It's also important for millennials to know their family's medical history. The U.S. National Library of Medicine said a complete record of health information comprises three generations of relatives.
Inadequate sleep is another health mistake usually practiced by millennials. Regular inadequate sleep increases your risk of developing obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, and lowers your life span, NHS Choices listed.
Another health mistake of millennials Caudle mentioned is not getting tested for sexually transmitted diseases. STDs can be prevented by undergoing tests, using condoms, reducing the number of your sexual partners, mutual monogamy, and vaccination, the CDC advised. Testing for STDs is simple and only requires a small amount of your blood.
Millennials should also apply sunscreen regularly. Some people only use sunscreens when they go to the beach but in fact, it should be worn frequently. Applying sunscreen and limiting their time out in the sun can help lower skin cancer risk and signs of aging caused by sun damage.
The last health mistake Caudle commonly encounters among millennials is their inability to acknowledge symptoms of mental illness. Some of the warning signs of mental illness are social withdrawal, apathy, sleep or appetite changes, problems thinking, and poor performance in work or school, Psychiatry.org listed. Caudle advised millennials not to ignore their feelings and to not be scared talking to mental health experts.
